Corps Says New Plan For Diversion Will Save Money

GARDNER, ND - APRIL 10: A rural church is surrounded by flood water April 10, 2011 near Gardner, North Dakota. The Red River crested yesterday about 25 miles south of Gardner in Fargo, North Dakota at 38.5 feet, well below the anticipated 41 feet and the record crest 40.84 feet experienced in 2009.

(creidt: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the cost for building a Red River diversion channel around Fargo is going down.

The corps released a map Thursday showing changes in the alignment of the 36-mile waterway. Agency officials say the new design will “improve the efficiency and substantially reduce the cost of the diversion.”

New cost figures were not immediately available. The previous estimate put the price tag at about $1.8 billion.

The corps has scheduled a meeting with affected landowners Monday evening in Harwood.

One Comment

It’s reported that the greatest and most expensive natural hardship in North Dakota is drought, not flooding. I should think that money would be saved if they stored the diverted flood waters and used them for irrigation, rather than depleting groundwater sources. They say the waters run backwards into Devils Lake at times anyways, why not stabilize it?